Pointy sticks at the ready... and a few choc biscuits and brews too.

[carrotsandcelery]

Scout Sorry but that is funny! Toddlers certainly test the patience of a saint sometimes.

I haven't ironed and I am not going to now Tomorrow is another day.

The sausage and lentil stew was popular and the sausages were lovely out of the slow cooker. Dh is now doing the dishwasher. I have been on the phone finding out more about the dog who needs a new home. I am going to visit it tomorrow. Eeek!

He is generally a lovely little boy. It's not just me saying that through rose tinted glasses. Lots of people say it to me. It's just today -- ARGH!

I have barely moved from this chair. I've decided, like carrots, that tomorrow is another day. I'm seriously considering going to be at 9.

I am already considering going to bed too Scout. Ts does sound a fab wee boy but toddlers are toddlers and are allowed to have their moments, the same as the rest of us.

Exactly. We all have our moments. An hour later he was cuddling on my lap watching "Daddy Gig" and when it was time to turn it off there was no complaint just a "car" and pointing at his toys on the floor. He wanted to get down and put his toys back in their boxes then ran upstairs to brush his teeth.

If I go to bed at 9 I'll miss MrScout and I'm not sure he realizes it's build-your-own meal dinner.

I will struggle on too Scout as I need to spend some time with dh. He is really keen to rehome this dog but he can't come with me tomorrow to visit it. It will all be down to what our dog makes of it. Our dog is like ds and it could go either way. Eeeek! I am excited and scared and sad for the family who clearly love their dog but have to rehome it.

I've had too many snacks. I feel a bit sick now.

What kind of dog do you have, carrots?

The dog we have just now is a dog's home cross breed. He definitely has a LOT of collie in him but we don't know what else

The one we are going to see tomorrow is a mixed breed too, with some collie in it too. Fingers crossed.

She is an old, old dog though so we won't have her long. We just want to love her and give her a few more happy years.

Oh cr@p -- MrScout's put the heat up and it's not clicked on.... Not bl00dy again!

Noooooooooooo!

Well, I had hot water around 6:30/6:45 when I washed Toddler's face before bed. I haven't tried the dishes yet. But it was reading 15 in here and he put it up to 22 to take the chill off before bed () so I'd expect the radiators to start warming up. NOOOOO!!!! It was -4 in the neighboring village as MrScout was coming home.

eeeek! Hope the boiler was just having a "moment" and is back now scout?

carrots we used to have a border collie when i was a kid - he was lovely, but mental - he used to try to chase cars down the street, so taking him for a walk was always a nightmare

Has anyone seen plum? I'm worried she has got lost in a dusting frenzy?

I have just got into bed (10:30) & this is the first time I've sat down since 7:30 when I put DD2 to bed. I have cleaned & tidied the kitchen & living room, put my favourite ginger soup in the slow cooker for lunch tomorrow, put even more rubbish & recycling in the wheelie bins, 1 load in the TD, another in the WM & put the DW on. Clothes laid out for the DDs.

I am very pleased with how good I am being at keeping the kitchen clean & clear, am going to try to do the same with the living room now (just dont look in the dining room!)

I think IABU, but I am getting increasingly annoyed with DH for leaving stuff laying around the house. Nothing major (opened post left on the sofa etc.) but all stuff that I have to pick up & do something with before it attracts more mess. Tonight I found a small cardboard box & I have put all these little bits in it. But I didn't know where to put the box! So I put it in the dumping dining room!

A friend is coming round tomorrow morning/lunch with her two DDs (same age as mine), so I won't be doing any flying until they leave & mine goto bed, by then I will probably need a lay down too!

i skulked off to bed at 8.was not a good evening in the zoo house....all kids fought and had tantrums from the moment i posted they were playing nice.was like world war 3 in here from then on!
diner tasted fab but was a bit sloppy so left to simmer and reduce-refereeing another dispute it burned.having finally got kids up(beans on toast) hit the snack cupboard with a vengeance before early night.
hoping for a better day today
bit low and may need some super sharp pointy sticks at the ready

heres the recipe,id add less liquid and then add more later iyswim

ginger and lentil stew
1tbsp oil
1onion,fine chop
2carrots,fine chop
2x400g tins lentils,drain and rinse(or 250g raw,cooked and drained)
50ml veg stock
250ml coconut milk
1tsp grated ginger
large handful baby spinach leaves
1tbsp flaked almonds
2tbsp fresh chopped coriander

cooked rice to serve
heat oil and saute onions and carrots for 10mins to soften slightly.add ginger and lentils for 1-2mins.add stock and milk.cover and bring to the boil.simmer 5mins.remove 1/2 and blitz til smooth.return to the pan and add spinach.quick stir then serve sprinkled with almonds and coriander accompanied by rice

i acquired some coconut milk powder from a corner shop near me-maggi brand.depending on the amount warm water added can be used as coconut milk or cream and keeps for 2yr so no wasting bits of tins
first time ive used it in main meal...normally goes into a cake(yumyum)

hope you all ok.
will be back 10ish
sorry post so long!

Morning all, I might not be around this morning as we may be doing the shopping. Mr Black has a day off too. Am hoping to get on here after lunch though.

Hope you are o.k. Zoo Hopefully the others will be around (on here) for you with pointy sticks --> and [brews].

for you Zoox

Boiler or MrScout was just being stupid and we got it working before bed.

TS's nose is definitely not disgusting like it was yesterday and only one tissue has been harmed this morning (as opposed to yesterday's 1/4 box by this time).

Toddler and I are off to soft play in an hour and I'm going to combine it with taking recycling to the bin and a trip to the tip to recycle the cardboard pyramind I've built. Taking the bag/s of baby things for my friend as she's joining us at soft play with her younger two. Might be able to do the donation run then, too, but that may just be pushing it (bag is in the car, though, just in case).

for all of those in need.

I'll be around for the 1 o'clock cleaning club if anyone would care to join me?

zoo sounds like a rubbish evening. Fresh start this morning and a with choc digestives if required. I hope some flying today will make you feel better about everything. FWIW my kids fight at times too. Dd has been on an outdoor sports week and was spoiling for a row last night, then sobbed herself to sleep. She wasn't sad, she was just so exhausted. Those of us with older dcs know exactly how you feel.

bessie I have a box like this and I leave it beside dh's bed. He is gradually getting the message. I have had a few hissy fits about post dumped on a newly tidied table etc but they actually seem to have done some good as he has realised how frustrating it is.

I am with dh this morning. He has the day off and lay in bed until 8.45, knowing he was leaving me with extra jobs on a day when I was already in a hurry as we had to be at school early. His excuse was that ds had got him up through the night. He did look shame faced when he realised that ds had got me up through the night too. I am still Grrrr! though. It is me who will have to have dd at an activity tomorrow which means leaving the house at 9am while he lounges around in his pjs. Grrr! Grrr! Grrr! Sleep deprivation is not good for otherwise happy marriages.

We are going the the cinema this morning so I have been bustling around doing jobs. I did notice dh has done the dw and the bin so he is not all bad

I am having my breakfast and a and then will do a few more bits and bobs and then we will be off.

I forgot to make my bed yesterday and it was not nearly as nice going to bed last night to a messy bed. I must make sure I do it today.

Ooops! I forgot babystep no 3 and today's mission is here

thanks for guys
onwards and upwards
in for the 1oclock club,log on 12.30 for pre chat and poking
enjoy cinemacarrots
im ok black,not sure will get much done this a.m(lure of sit by fire/snuggle into bed strong...its freeeeezing)

Right! Jumps back in with renewed enthusiasm.

Can't keep up with you busy ladies. :o

I'm going to stick with babysteps and add the mission into the afternoon routine if i get through the rest of the babystep afternoon routine first.

I actually managed to get rid of 2 bags of stuff (not that impressive given the amount of crap we have but it's a start) to the charity shop and felt quite liberated :o

Have set up ebay and paypal accounts, just need to start using them now

TaDa's so far
Got up, dressed (not to shoes)
Swished and swiped
Made bed
Got kids off to school
Dishwasher and other washing up done
Shiny sink

Need to get a move on.

Right, I'm back home now so signing in for 1.00 club.
I am having lunch and a before I start.

Anyone else in?

i've returned!
dlamis thats not a bad list for today and 2 bags decluttered makes a little dent.nothing wrong with that!

i confess to returning to the pit (along with a snotty little zoo) for a crafty nap

its perked me up but have a nother confession

i was soo fed last night i abandoned the kitchen and its a bearpit bit untidy

after lunch(soup) im hoping the 1o'clock club with pointy stick me in to tackle it

i have done nothing but make beds and a load washing so after that i shall have to get a wriggle on and fly like the wind

dd3(ringleader) is on a playdate after school today so hoping for a more relaxed evening

Zoo My kitchen is the same! I was on a downer yesterday so just left it all to fester
We have bought the ingredients for a cottage pie. (first attempt)
I am pretty rubbish in the kitchen but really want to get better!

I'm in. Just home and put TS down for a nap. Need to find something to eat for me, though.

Ta Da's this morning include:
TS & I showered and dressed
trip to tip for magazine and cardboard recycling
trip to ATM (for cash, of course! )
soft play/chat with friends/slide down the freshly polished wavey slide (WWWwwweeeeee!)
given friend two kitchen bags worth of baby clothes and some other baby bits

It was lovely getting the bags out of the house this morning and even lovelier seeing her face. I had given her a carrier bag of unused/still had the tags on outfits last week and as a thank you she brought Toddler a train set (a brio compatible so lots more fun to be had at ScoutCamp!) and me a handmade bag (her mother is a seamstress and makes/sells things and her mom, who I've met a couple of times, was so touched by the fact that I would pass on lovely clothes to her daughter wanted me to have a present, too). I feel a bit sappy/weepy just thinking about it.